Apparatus for directing air toward a bather

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for directing in air flow toward the face or other body area of a bather includes a housing connected to the bathing tub and an air nozzle movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position.

This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/535,872, filed Jan. 12, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to apparatus operatively associated with abathing tub for directing an air flow toward the face or other upperbody area of a bather in the bathing tub.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many bathers would like to stay in a bathing tub for an extended periodof time when taking a hot bath. However, this can become very hot anduncomfortable.

It is known generally to provide directional air vents for spas, jettedbathtubs and other types of bathing tubs, including arrangements forproviding flowing air above the water line to a bather. Sucharrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,903, issued Nov. 20, 2001,and U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,217, issued Jun. 24, 2003.

It is also known to direct air to an individual in a cabinet notcontaining water. This approach is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No.5,099,587, issued Mar. 31, 1992, and in International Publication No. WO91/16029, published Oct. 31, 1991.

And of course, it is well known to employ air blowers in associationwith underwater jets or nozzles. Typical examples of this approach areshown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,212, issued Oct. 17, 2000, U.S. Pat. No.4,901,379, issued Feb. 20, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,255, issued Aug.22, 1989 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,801, issued Dec. 5, 2000.

No prior art devices are known which teach or suggest the uniquecombination of structural elements disclosed and claimed herein.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for delivering air flowtoward the face or other upper body area of a bather that ischaracterized by its relative simplicity and ease of use. The apparatusis employed in association with a bathing tub and can be convenientlyactuated or deactuated. When the apparatus is actuated, one or more airnozzles thereof are positioned well above the top of the rim of thebathing tub so that the air can be directed in a proper direction towardeven tall bathers. The apparatus may be disposed conveniently out of theway when not in use so that it does not create an obstruction whichcould cause one to fall or be injured when entering or leaving thebathtub.

The direction of air flow can be conveniently and readily adjusted. Ascreen filter is incorporated in the apparatus to prevent particulatesfrom hitting one's face and the apparatus may be readily disassembledfor maintenance, cleaning or other purposes.

The apparatus includes an air nozzle defining at least one air exitopening. A housing is connected to a bathing tub defining a housinginterior and a top opening communicating with the housing interior. Theair nozzle extends downwardly through the top opening into the housinginterior and is slidably movable relative to the housing between anextended or upper position and a retracted or lower position.

An air blower is provided for directing air to the air nozzle and out ofthe at least one exit opening. A control is employed for selectivelyturning the air blower on or off.

Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention willbecome apparent with reference to the following description andaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub occupied by a bather andillustrating two identical apparatus constructed in accordance with theteachings of the present invention in retracted or down position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the apparatus inextended or up position and delivering a flow of air to the head andface of the bather;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, perspective view of a preferred embodimentof the apparatus, the air nozzle being in retracted or down position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the air nozzle inextended or up position;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating the extended airnozzle partially disassembled;

FIG. 10 is a perspective, exploded view illustrating components of theapparatus housing and a portion of the air nozzle positioning structureof the apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a perspective, exploded view illustrating structural elementsof one of the air nozzle components; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating two apparatus associatedwith a bathtub with the air nozzles in extended position and othercomponents of the invention operatively associated therewith.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1, 2 and 12 illustrate a bathing tub in the form of a conventionalbathtub 10 with which the apparatus of the present invention isoperatively associated. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bather in position in thetub interior. Apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention is operatively associated with the bathtub fordirecting an air flow toward the face or other upper body area of thebather.

As will be described in greater detail below, the apparatus includes anair nozzle/housing sub-assembly. There are two such sub-assembliesemployed with bathtub 10 and each has been designated by referencenumeral 12. In FIGS. 1 and 3-5, the air nozzle 14 of the sub-assembly isin a retracted or down position, with the air nozzle essentially flushwith the upper surface of the bathtub. In FIGS. 2, 6-8 and 12, on theother hand, the air nozzle 14 is in its extended or up position.

It will be appreciated that the air nozzle/housing sub-assemblies 12 areof identical configuration, so the description of a single sub-assemblywhich follows will be applicable to both.

The housing 16 of the device is connected to the bathing tub and definesa housing interior 18 and a top opening 20 communicating with thehousing interior. The air nozzle 14 extends downwardly through the topopening 20 into the housing interior 18 and is slidably movable relativeto the housing between the extended position and the retracted position.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 12, a blower 22 controlled by control24 delivers a flow of air through conduit 26 to air lines 28 into thehousing interior 18. If desired, a heater 30 is located between theblower and the sub-assemblies 12. The heater is controlled by controller24 to heat the air flow to a desired temperature. A check valve 32prevents back flow of water to the heater/blower. A switch 34 of anysuitable type is operatively associated with the air nozzle and housingand the control 24. When the air nozzle is in its retracted position theswitch causes the control to deactivate the blower and heater.

The apparatus includes manually actuable air nozzle positioningstructure operatively associated with the air nozzle for moving the airnozzle from its retracted position to its extended position. In thearrangement illustrated, the air nozzle positioning structure comprisesan air damper assembly 40 with piston seal and piston rod latch forcontrolling the movement of the air nozzle to its extended position fromits retracted position responsive to application of a downward manualforce on the retracted air nozzle. A suitable device of this nature isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,223, issued May 21, 1996.

Air damper assembly or air nozzle positioning structure 40 has an uppercomponent 42 and a lower component 44, the upper component slidablyreceiving and mounted on the lower component. The upper component 42 issecured to the air nozzle 14 and the lower component 44 is secured tothe housing. The air nozzle positioning structure biases the air nozzletoward its extended or up position, with the latch thereof (not shown)maintaining the air nozzle in the retracted position after a downwardmanual force has moved the air nozzle to its retracted position from itsextended position until a subsequent downward manual force is applied tothe air nozzle. The subsequent downward manual force releases the latchof the air nozzle positioning structure and moves the air nozzle to itsextended or up position.

The air nozzle 14 includes inner nozzle portion 50 and outer nozzleportion 52. A threaded fastener 54 is employed to maintain the inner andouter nozzle portions connected together. When the threaded fastener isunscrewed, the inner nozzle portion may be completely removed from theouter nozzle portion as shown in FIG. 9. This provides access to theinner components of the air nozzle.

The inner nozzle portion 50 has a top cap 56 utilized to initiateextension or retraction of the air nozzle.

FIG. 11 shows the back side of inner nozzle portion 50. The air nozzleincludes two adjustably positionable nozzle elements or jets 58 definingair exit openings. The nozzle elements 58 are seated in apertures formedin the front face of the inner nozzle portion. Compression springs 60bias the nozzle elements outwardly. A mounting member 62, which ishollow and has apertures 64 communicating with the interior of themounting member, is screwed into place, retaining the springs 60 inposition so that the nozzle elements are positioned properly.

Air flow through apertures 64 proceeds out of the nozzle elements.Filter screens 66 are disposed in mounting member 62 between apertures64 and the nozzle elements to prevent any particulate matter fromexiting the air nozzle and striking a bather. The screens and othercomponents of the inner nozzle portion can be readily replaced ormaintained due to the fact that the inner nozzle portion can becompletely separated from the outer nozzle portion.

In FIG. 8 arrows depict the air flow from air line 28 into the housinginterior and outwardly through the nozzle elements 58 when the airnozzle is in its extended or up position. The direction of the flow outof the air nozzle may be adjusted by rotating the air nozzle about thevertical axis it shares with the housing and also by changing theorientations of the nozzle elements.

Extending downwardly from the bottom of the housing 16 and having aninterior in communication with the interior of the housing is a waterdrain outlet 70. As can be seen in FIG. 12, the water drain outlet 70 isconnected to a tub drain 72 by a conduit 74. A solenoid operated valve76 connected to the tub drain prevents air from the air nozzle andhousing from entering the tub drain. When the air flow into the airnozzle and housing is turned off, the control 24 opens the solenoid 76allowing any water in the air/nozzle assembly to drain away.

A diverter plate 80 is located within the interior of the housing overthe outlet of air line 28. This directs any water in the airnozzle/housing subassembly to the water drain outlet 70 and keeps theair line free of moisture.

1. Apparatus operatively associated with a bathing tub for directing anair flow toward the face or other upper body area of a bather in thebathing tub, said apparatus comprising, in combination: an air nozzledefining at least one air exit opening; a housing connected to saidbathing tub defining a housing interior and a top opening communicatingwith said housing interior, said air nozzle extending downwardly throughsaid top opening into said housing interior and slidably movablerelative to said housing between an extended position and a retractedposition; an air blower for directing air to said air nozzle and out ofsaid at least one exit opening; and a control for selectively turningsaid air blower on or off.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid control includes a switch operatively associated with said airnozzle and housing to turn off said air blower when said air nozzle ismoved to said retracted position.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1additionally comprising manually actuable air nozzle positioningstructure operatively associated with said air nozzle for moving saidair nozzle from said retracted position to said extended position. 4.The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said air nozzle positioningstructure biases said air nozzle toward said extended position andincludes a latch maintaining said air nozzle in said retracted positionafter a downward manual force has moved said air nozzle to saidretracted position from said extended position until a subsequentdownward manual force is applied to said air nozzle, said subsequentdownward manual force releasing said latch and enabling said air nozzleto move to said extended position.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3wherein said air nozzle positioning structure comprises an air damperassembly with piston seal and piston rod latch for controlling themovement of said air nozzle to said extended position from saidretracted position responsive to application of said subsequent downwardmanual force to said air nozzle.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1wherein said air nozzle and said housing are disposed along a commonaxis, said air nozzle rotatable relative to said housing about thecommon axis to change the direction of air exiting said one or more airexit openings.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionallycomprising a heater for heating air directed to said air nozzle by saidair blower.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housingdefines an air flow passageway receiving air flow from an air linedelivering air from said air blower and directing air received from saidair line to said air nozzle, said apparatus including a deflector fordeflecting any water entering either the air nozzle or housing away fromsaid air line.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionallycomprising a filter screen positioned in said air nozzle adjacent tosaid at least one exit opening for filtering said air flow prior to exitthereof from said at least one air exit opening.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said air nozzle includes one or moreadjustably positionable nozzle elements defining said at least one airexit opening.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least aportion of said air nozzle is selectively completely removable from saidhousing to facilitate access to the interior of said air nozzle.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 8 additionally comprising a water drainextending downwardly from said housing for receiving water deflected bysaid deflector.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a tubdrain extends downwardly from said bathing tub, said water drain beingin fluid-flow communication with said tub drain.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 13 additionally comprising a valve operable toprevent water flow from said water drain to said tub drain responsive toair flow from said blower to said air nozzle.